Tyres are essential components of a race car, as they are the only direct link between the vehicle and the road. The viscoelastic characteristics of tyre compounds mean an optimal window of operating conditions under which the driver can extract maximum performance race after race has demonstrated that achieving and maintaining this window is a critical differentiating factor between victory and defeat.
All-new 18-inch Pirelli tyres are part of a comprehensive technical regulations overhaul for Formula 1 in 2022. This step-change reverses years’ worth of collected tyre data and cultivated knowledge, and those that can get on top of the new tyres quickly could prevail with an immense competitive advantage.
The teams are well-equipped to tackle this challenge and utilise various tools and methodologies to develop their understanding of tyre performance. Below we will discuss some of these tools and the considerations involved in unlocking tyre comprehension. Developing Tyre Models
Mario Isola, Head of F1 and Car Racing for Pirelli, sat down with Racecar Engineering to provide insight on tyre characterisation from the supplier’s perspective. He stressed the importance of developing models as design tools in an era of simulation-driven development, saying, ‘One of the most important transfers of technology between Formula 1 and road tyres is the ability to virtualise the tyre and accelerate the development process using simulation. Once you know ho...